Invitation to the 29th Slovenian Open Fly Tying Championship 2016

Fly tying section of the Slovenian Fishing Association is announcing the 29th annual Slovenian Open Fly Tying Championship for the year 2016, the second oldest fly tying contest in Europe.

Tiers participate in the following categories:

1. Dry Flies
2. Nymphs & Wet Flies
3. Streamers
4. Realistic Flies

Conditions of participation are as follows:

1.Each flytier is allowed to compete in each of the categories with one fly only, which must be sent in 2 samples. The chosen fly should not be a part of the tiers participation in any of his/her previous tying competitions.

2.Package with each sample should contain:
· Name of the fly (Known or new);
· Password to prove the fly's origin (it can be anything, formed with letters and/or numbers);
· Description of used materials (Recipe);
· Size and type of the hook used;
· Name of the animal that is being imitated (if possible a photography as well! *This only considers category - Realistic Flies)

Jury will automatically reject all samples that will contain natural insect parts (such as wings, legs, etc) as a part of the fly!

3. In the accompanying letter tyers must write their name, address, e-mail, telephone number, country for which they compete, names of the flies and passwords. Letter should be in the enclosed envelope together with the fly. Copies of those letters must be kept by the authors until the end of the competition.

4. For the judging of flies jury will consider the following criteria:
· Proportions of the fly,
· firmness and technical aspect of the tying,
· suitability of the chosen materials,
· general impression and
· innovativeness;
· in the 4th category »imitating level« will be the most important criterion!

5. Jury holds the right to classify samples in different categories if necessary!

6. Decision of the jury is final!

7. Please send flies in a package that prevents them to be destroyed during shipping!

8. Deadline for sending your patterns to us: 31st January 2016

9. Flies should be sent to the following address:

Ribiska Zveza Slovenije (for competition 2016)
Trzaska 134
SI-1001 Ljubljana
SLOVENIA

Considering previous criteria jury will impart the best 3 flies in each category with practical prizes, licences for the best Slovenian fly fishing districts and diplomas. All participants will be previously informed about their achievements.

FAS-Flytying Section President: Luka Hojnik

President FAS: dr. Miroslav Žaberl

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Results from the 28th Slovenian Open Championship
https://www.flyfish-slovenia.com/natecaj/2015/prvenstvo2015.pdf

Report from the 27th Slovenian Open Championship in English with awarded patterns gallery:
https://www.flyfish-slovenia.com/natecaj/2014/Report2014_eng.pdf

Report from the 26th Slovenian Open Championship in English with awarded patterns gallery:
https://www.flyfish-slovenia.com/nate...loOpen2013.pdf

Report from the 25th Slovenian Open Championship in English with awarded patterns gallery:
https://www.flyfishingpoint.net/en/a...mpionship-2012

Report from the 24th Slovenian Open Championship in English with awarded patterns & photos from the prize giving ceremony:
Muharjenje v Sloveniji - Flyfishing in Slovenia: Forums / Muharski dogodki [Fly fishing events] / [Report & Invitation] 24th Slovenian Open & 13th National Fly Tying Contest 2011

More info and reports available at: Muharjenje v Sloveniji - Flyfishing in Slovenia: Content / Tying Contest / Invitation to the 29th Slovenian Open Fly Tying Championship 2016

You are all kindly invited to participate in the Europe's second oldest Fly Tying Championship!

Tight lines,
Luka Hojnik

Thank you, Les.

Based on the feedback received through e-mails and via some other forum boards, please allow me to provide some more information on the contest.

Each pattern should be sent to us in two identical samples. This is how we actually see if tier is able to repeat the tying procedure several times and that the first tied fly is not a "one time wonder" or a result of a mere luck This also demonstrates tiers ability on precision of tying and we are judging that by samples comparison... this also allows us to present all flies in two separate showcases when the contest ends (one contains all flies and second only the awarded ones) - used in prize giving ceremony, our archive and exhibitions.

We are really happy and proud that we are able to keep our contest alive for almost 30 years now, getting bigger every year and that it remains independent. No sponsors involved. It is about tradition, strong international exposure of the participating tiers and motivation for young tiers to start tying in a creative way. Awards for the best patterns usually include fly fishing tackle, carefully crafted by the Slovenian craftsmen, rod builders, etc. (split cane rods, unique fly tying vices, reels...) and fishing licenses for the best Slovenian fly fishing districts...

A part of our mission is also education of next generation of fly fishermen/ tyers in form of fly tying workshops for the youngest members of our community. And they always consider our fly tying contest as a huge motivation, especially when we invite established and world reknown fly tiers to present them techniques and approaches to creative fly tying... we are trying our best to broaden the scope and to really present fly tying as a part of our tradition and as an integral part of the Slovenian school of fly fishing. Also as a tribute to our famous fly tiers which are unfortunatelly not with us any more...

And we are so stoked to see that we are receiving flies from all continents and impressed by the continuously increasing quality of the patterns we receive each year.

I hope this helps you in taking decision of tying your best fly ever and sending it to us! You can send one fly per category, so 4 flies (x2) all together if you want to participate in all 4 categories. Deadline is Jan 31st, meaning that all flies handed over the to the courier/ post office till the midnight on the 31st will count for the contest.

You can check the results from last couple of years in the links provided in my initial post.

Kindly invited and looking forward to your further responses, questions, comments...

Good luck and tight lines to all,
Luka